Will Vijay be able to form the government in Tamil Nadu? What’s going on?

On May 4 (Monday), political pundits and pollsters were stunned when actor-turned-politician Vijay’s newly-formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) defied all trends and predictions to sweep the polls in Tamil Nadu.

With this feat, not only did his party emerge as the single-largest one in the state polls — he won 108 seats — but also broke the political dominance of the Dravidian parties, the DMK and the AIADMK.

Shortly after his triumph, Vijay’s party announced that he would take charge after taking the oath of office on May 7 (Friday). But this wait has gotten longer as the ‘Thalapathy’ still doesn’t have the numbers on his side. To be sworn in, he needs 118 seats in the Assembly, 10 more than he currently has.

So, what’s going on? Will Vijay be able to cobble up the numbers he needs, or will it be a hung Assembly?

Vijay and the numbers game in Tamil Nadu

After the votes were tallied on May 4, the TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the state of Tamil Nadu. The
Vijay-led party registered wins in 108 seats, leaving behind traditional political parties such as the DMK (59) and the AIADMK (47). The Congress won five seats in the southern state, whereas the Dr S Ramadoss-led PMK won four seats.

This means that no party has achieved the majority mark, which is 118 in a 234-member Assembly.

Despite falling short of the numbers, Vijay expressed confidence in forming the government and wrote to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar that as the single largest party, TVK should be invited to form the
government. “We request an opportunity to demonstrate our majority,” he said in an e-mail communication, according to party sources.

And on Wednesday (May 6), met with the Governor at Lok Bhavan, claiming the support of 112 MLAs, including those of the
Congress, who have until now been an ally of the DMK in the state. In fact, the Congress’s support for the TVK has reportedly angered the DMK, with leader Baalu noting that it was a betrayal by the Congress. “It (Congress) has betrayed the people who voted believing a DMK-led government would be formed,” Baalu said in a statement.

But the Congress support to the TVK comes at a hefty price — the party is expected to get two Cabinet berths, more than it ever got during its alliance with the DMK.

However, Governor Rajendra Arlekar informed Vijay that his numbers aren’t enough and that he needs to return with 118.

When asked why he wasn’t going ahead with Vijay’s swearing-in and then calling for a floor test, an official from the governor’s office told Hindustan Times, “The governor wants to be sure that Vijay has the support of a majority of MLAs.”

This has led to a new scramble of political scrambling on all sides.

An NDTV report has stated that a huge chunk of AIADMK MLAs are open to extending support to a Vijay-led government. As per the report, around 30 of AIADMK’s 47 MLAs are in favour of joining hands with Vijay, but party chief E Palaniswami is reluctant. Senior AIADMK official KP Munusamy told reporters, “Whatever the situation is, AIADMK will not support TVK.”

Additionally, NDTV has reported that Vijay has approached the governor again this morning (May 7) to convince him that he has the numbers needed for a stable government.

Resort politics emerges

With the numbers up in the air, parties are now indulging in resort politics to ensure that their MLAs don’t jump ships. It’s been reported that more than a dozen newly elected AIADMK MLAs were reportedly shifted to a resort in Puducherry.

Sources claimed the legislators were being moved amid fears of political poaching and internal disagreement over whether the AIADMK should support Vijay’s government formation bid.

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu: TVK MLAs have been lodged at a private resort in Mahabalipuram, Chennai, under tight security after the party won a majority in 108 constituencies. Police personnel have been deployed for security at the location pic.twitter.com/uKh7HdokQr

— IANS (@ians_india) May 7, 2026

The New Indian Express also reported that Vijay had moved some of his winning MLAs to a resort in Mamallapuram.

DMK-AIADMK sparks speculation

Meanwhile, speculation emerged that the AIADMK and the DMK had begun informal discussions over a possible arrangement if Vijay fails to prove majority support.

According to political sources, the option that the two parties were discussing was that the AIADMK would form the government with outside support from the DMK. The DMK secured 59 seats while the AIADMK won 47 seats. Together, their strength stands at 106 seats.

Under the arrangement being discussed informally, Vijay would first get an opportunity to prove his majority in the Assembly. If he fails, the AIADMK would stake a claim with the backing of the DMK and other regional players.

However, this speculation was put to bed when
DMK chief MK Stalin told The Times of India that they are willing to wait for six months for Vijay and the TVK to form the government.

“DMK will wait for TVK leader C Joseph Vijay to form the government, and watch without disturbing for six months,” Stalin was quoted as saying by the Times of India, quashing speculation of a DMK-AIADMK alliance.

A hung assembly and an uncertain future

If none of the parties are able to cobble up the numbers needed for a clear majority, then a hung assembly emerges, and all eyes will turn to the governor.

In such a case, Governor Arlekar has to invite the leader of the coalition with the highest number of seats or the party with the largest number of seats to form the government. The usual procedure is that the governor would invite the largest party or alliance to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the House. Instead, he could also encourage a coalition that can demonstrate majority support.

If the majority is proven in the floor test, they come into power. If the party fails to prove a majority, the chief minister must resign, and the governor may invite the next viable party or coalition to attempt forming a government.

And in the case that no party or alliance is able to form a stable government, the state may fall under President’s Rule, and a new election would be conducted to decide the fate of the state.

With inputs from agencies